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Monday, February 7, 2011

German Chocolate Cake

Chocolate! Not just chocolate but German Chocolate. Memories. Mother. Valentine's Day.

What are your Valentine's memories from when you were a child? Today I'm remembering a day I was watching my mother decorate her German chocolate cake with the best coconut icing I'd ever eaten. It was her specialty. Her icing. I watched in admiration as she smoothed the hot icing over the three-layer cake.

Mother loved to surprise me with special treats on Valentine's Day - like the German chocolate cake that she knew I loved. Once she and Dad and I went on a trip on Valentine's Day. When I opened the back door to get in the car, I noticed a surprise gift. My thoughtful mother had bought me a lilac set of stationery. I loved to write letters. I was tickled pink.

Occasionally, I make that German chocolate cake like Mother made it. It's beautiful and oh so yummy. If you'd like to try it, the easiest method is buy a German chocolate cake mix. Mother's coconut icing recipe was made with a little of this and that.The ingredients listed below are what I use as a guideline. However, I change the amounts to suit my taste and the consistency that I like. It tastes like a caramel icing.

3 c. sugar
1 can Carnation milk
3 T. flour
1 stick butter

2 T. white Karo syrup
1 T. vanilla

Coconut (1/2 to 1 bag coconut or to consistency you prefer)

Combine 3 cups sugar, milk, flour, butter and Karo in boiler and cook until sugar is melted. Cook slowly as it is easy to scorch. Add vanilla and butter flavor. Add coconut. When cold spread on cake layers.